Freie Universität Berlin to Host International Conference “Sustainability in Higher Education: Between Transformation and Vibe Shifts”
International experts will discuss the future of sustainability at universities from September 21 to 23, 2026 / Members of the public from the fields of research, higher education, politics, and civil society are welcome to attend
№ 103/2026 from Aug 04, 2026
The Unit for Sustainability and Energy Management at Freie Universität Berlin, in collaboration with the European university alliance Una Europa, will be hosting an international conference on sustainable transformation at universities from September 21 to 23, 2026. At “Sustainability in Higher Education: Between Transformation and Vibe Shifts” researchers, university employees, and representatives from the fields of politics, administration, civil society, and education will come together to discuss research results, projects, experiences, and approaches related to sustainable development at universities. Members of the public are welcome to attend. The conference will be held in English, and attendees are asked to register by August 31, 2026.
In the late 2010s, many universities worldwide positioned themselves as pioneers of a broad societal shift toward sustainability. By 2026, the landscape has evolved. Multiple crises, skepticism toward science, economic priorities, digital disruption, and climate fatigue have shifted sustainability from a dominant agenda to one among many priorities.
The international conference addresses these shifting dynamics and asks how sustainability can be reimagined and redesigned. It will open with keynotes and panel discussions, followed by six workshops that will facilitate interdisciplinary exchange concerning the role of universities in tackling current societal and ecological challenges. The organizers hope to create a space for exploring critical perspectives on the current state of sustainability in higher education and to spark discussion on how best to promote climate protection measures, implement new structural approaches, and strengthen social responsibility.
President of Freie Universität Berlin Professor Günter M. Ziegler will hold the opening address. An impressive lineup of experts will present keynotes at the conference, including Mandy Singer-Brodowski, Professor of Education for Sustainable Development at the University of Regensburg; Dr. Julie Newman, Director of Sustainability at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); Dr. Felix Christian Matthes, Research Coordinator for Energy and Climate Policy at Öko-Institut Consult GmbH – Institute for Applied Ecology; Dr. Jeannette Behringer, Head of the Sufficiency Program at the Zurich Knowledge Center for Sustainable Development, University of Zurich (UZH); Riina Koivuranta, Head of Responsibility and Well-Being at the University of Helsinki; Thimo von Stuckrad, Head of the Transformation Sustainability section within the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK); Professor Holger Dau, Chair of the Una Europa Self-Steering Committee in Sustainability; and Lena Partzsch, Professor of Comparative Politics with a Focus on Environmental and Climate Politics at Freie Universität Berlin.
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